Foot pedal for motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A foot pedal for motor vehicles which is covered over the largest part of its length with an elastic foamed material at least on the surface of the foot pedal facing the driver.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,722,320

Wilfert [4 Mar. 27, 1973 FOOT PEDAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE [56] ReferencesCited [75] Inventor: Karl Wilfert, Gerlingen-Waldstadt, UNITED STATESPATENTS Germany 2,722,847 1 H1955 Pexrochko ..74/56() X [731 AssignwDaimler'BW -Aktiengese'lschaf" 5333 333 351322 QSiiffffffiiiiii111111932143"; stuttgart'umemrkhelm Germany 1 ,618,652 2/i927 ,Grant..74/56O x 22 Filed: June 29 1971 1,875,399 9/1932 Ritz Woller......74/563 2,203,933 6/1940 Thorp ..74/56O X 21 Appl. No.2 157,831

Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker[30] Foreign Apphcmm Priority Data Attorney-Craig, Antonelli and HillJune 30, 1970 Germany ..P 20 32 159.9

[57] 7 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..74/560, 74/563 A foot p d 31 for motorvehicles which is overed over- [51] Int. Cl. ..G05g 1/16 the largestpart of its length with an elastic foamed [58] Field of Seareh.....74/560, 563

material at least on the surface of the foot'pedal facing the driver.

19 Chims, 6 Drawing Figures PATH-ITEDHARZTIBYS M T N E Err H NW L R A KATTORNEYS FOOT PEDAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE The present invention relates tofoot pedals for motor vehicles which are so constructed that in case ofaccidents the injury danger to the driver is at least strongly reducedby the same.

This is attained according to the present invention in that at least thesurface of the foot pedal facing the driver is covered over the largestpart of its length with an elastic foamed material.

Preferably, the foot pedal is formed about its entire circumference overthe largest part of its length and is provided on the side facing thedriver with a thicker foamed material layer than on the side oppositethe driver.

The possibility that the drivers foot actuating the pedal gets stuck atthe pedal can be prevented according to the present invention in thatthe foamed layer as viewed in plan view is enlarged within the area ofthe foot plate of the foot pedal preferably continuously up to the widthof the foot plate and that as viewed in cross section the width of thefoamed layer increases preferably continuously from the side oppositethe driver to the side facing the driver of the foot pedal.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a footpedal for motor vehicles which obviates the aforementioned shortcomingsand drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a foot pedal formotor vehicles which greatly reduces the injury danger for the driver incase of accidents.

A further object of the present invention resides in a safety foot pedalfor motor vehicles which is simple in construction yet minimizes thedanger of injury in case of accidents.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more obvious from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a foot pedal according to the present'inventionwhich is not provided with foamed material about its entirecircumference;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3'is a plan view on a modified embodiment of a foot pedal of thepresent invention which is foamed about its entire circumference overthe largest part of its length;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV- IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view on a still further modified embodiment of a footpedal which is constructed similar to that of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI VI of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the various views to designate like parts, and moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the foot pedal illustrated in thesefigures is generally designated by reference numeral l which consists ofa flat-section or flat-profile member 2 with a foot plate 3 adjoiningthe same; the foot pedal 1 is covered on its top side facing the driverby a foamed material layer 4.

The foot pedal generally designated by reference numeral l andillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is also constituted by a flat-section or aflat profile member 2 and a foot plate 3 but is surrounded completely bya foamed material layer 4 over the largest part of its length. Thisfoamed material layer 4 is as can be seen from FIG. 3 enlarged withinthe area of the foot plate 3 up to the width of the latter in order toprevent a gettingstuck of the foot actuating the pedal. For the samereason, the width of the foamed material layer 4 continuously increasesfrom the bottom side opposite the driver from the left side as viewed inFIG. 4 to the side facing the driver to the right as viewed in FIG. 4.

The foot pedal generally designated by reference numeral 1 andillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 does not consist of an upright flatmaterial but instead of a pipe or tubular member 5. The foamed materiallayer 4 is thereby constructed analogously corresponding to theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and as viewed in plan view isrectilinearly enlarged conically up to the width of the foot plate 3. 7

While I have shown and described only three embodiments in accordancewith the present invention, it is understood that the same is notlimited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modificationsas known to those skilled in the art. For example, any suitable foamedmaterial, such as foamed synthetic resinous materials of conventionaltype may be used. Furthermore, it may also be advantageous under certaincircumstances if the foamed material layer extends with the width of thefoot plate at least over a large portion of the length of the foot pedalor if its width even increases from the foot plate to the bearing placeof the foot pedal. Thus, it is obvious that the present invention is notlimited to the details shown and described herein, and I therefore donot wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein butintend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foot pedal for motor vehicles comprising: a foot plate engageablewith a drivers foot during normal operation of the foot pedal, a profilemember extending from said foot plate to a bearing place for the footpedal, and an elastic foamed material layer completely surrounding saidprofile member along the largest portion of the length of said profilemember for cushioning the impact of a drivers foot or the like againstall sides of said foot pedal.

2. A foot pedal according to claim I, wherein said foamed material layeris thicker on the upper side of the profile member than on the lowerside thereof.

3. A foot pedal according to claim 1, wherein said foamed material layeris thicker adjacent the foot plate end of the profile member thanadjacent the bearing place end of the profile member.

4. A foot pedal according to claim 3, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer as viewed in plan view is enlarged within the area of thefoot plate of the foot pedal substantially up to the width of the footplate.

5. A foot pedal according to claim 4, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer is enlarged continuously from a position adjacent thebearing place up to the width of the foot plate.

6. A foot pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that thethickness of the foamed material layer as viewed in cross sectionincreases from the side of the profile member and foot plate oppositethe driver to the side facing the driver.

7. A foot pedal according to claim 6, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer increases continuously from the side opposite the driverto the side facing the driver.

8. A foot pedal according to claim 6, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer as viewed in plan view is enlarged within the area of thefoot plate of the foot pedal substantially up to the width of the footplate.

9. A foot pedal according to claim 8, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer is enlarged continuously up to the width of the footplate.

10. A foot pedal according to claim 9, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer increases continuously from the side opposite the driverto the side facing the driver.

1 l. A foot pedal according to claim 9, characterized in that the widthof the foamed material layer is enlarged substantially conically from aposition adjacent the bearing place up to the width of the foot plate atthe foot plate.

12. A foot pedal according to claim 10, characterized in that theprofile member is completely surrounded by foamed material over thelargest part of its length and is provided on the side facing the driverwith a thicker foamed material layer than on the side opposite thedriver.

13. A foot pedal according to claim 1, wherein said profile member isconstructed as a vertically extending flat plate member, wherein saidfoamed material layer is formed symmetrically with respect to thevertical center plane of said flat plate member, said foamed materiallayer being thicker in the lateral direction at the end of the platemember adjacent the bearing place than at the end of the plate memberadjacent the foot plate.

14. A foot pedal according to claim 13, wherein said foamed materiallayer is thicker along the top of said plate member than along thebottom of said plate member.

15. A foot pedal according to claim 13, wherein said foamed materiallayer is enlarged continuously in the lateral direction from a positionadjacent the bearing place up to a width corresponding to the width ofsaid foot plate at said foot plate.

16. A foot pedal according to claim 1, wherein said profile member isconstructed as a cylindrical member having its longitudinal axisextending between the foot plate and the bearing place.

17. A foot pedal according to claim 16, characterized in that the widthof the foamed material layer is enlarged substantially conically from aposition adjacent the bearing place up to the width of the foot plate atthe foot plate.

18. A foot pedal according to claim 17, wherein the thickness of saidfoamed material layer is enlarged continuously over the entire length ofthe foamed material layer. I 7

19. A foot pedal according to claim 18, wherein said cylindrical member.

1. A foot pedal for motor vehicles comprising: a foot plate engageablewith a driver''s foot during normal operation of the foot pedal, aprofile member extending from said foot plate to a bearing place for thefoot pedal, and an elastic foamed material layer completely surroundingsaid profile member along the largest portion of the length of saidprofile member for cushioning the impact of a driver''s foot or the likeagainst all sides of said foot pedal.
 2. A foot pedal according to claim1, wherein said foamed material layer is thicker on the upper side ofthe profile member than on the lower side thereof.
 3. A foot pedalaccording to claim 1, wherein said foamed material layer is thickeradjacent the foot plate end of the profile member than adjacent thebearing place end of the profile member.
 4. A foot pedal according toclaim 3, characterized in that the foamed material layer - as viewed inplan view - is enlarged within the area of the foot plate of the footpedal substantially up to the width of the foot plate.
 5. A foot pedalaccording to claim 4, characterized in that the foamed material layer isenlarged continuously from a position adjacent the bearing place up tothe width of the foot plate.
 6. A foot pedal according to claim 1,characterized in that the thickness of the foamed material layer - asviewed in cross section - increases from the side of the profile memberand foot plate opposite the driver to the side facing the driver.
 7. Afoot pedal according to claim 6, characterized in that the foamedmaterial layer increases continuously from the side opposite the driverto the side facing the driver.
 8. A foot pedal according to claim 6,characterized in that the foamed material layer - as viewed in planview - is enlarged within the area of the foot plate of the foot pedalsubstantially up to the widtH of the foot plate.
 9. A foot pedalaccording to claim 8, characterized in that the foamed material layer isenlarged continuously up to the width of the foot plate.
 10. A footpedal according to claim 9, characterized in that the foamed materiallayer increases continuously from the side opposite the driver to theside facing the driver.
 11. A foot pedal according to claim 9,characterized in that the width of the foamed material layer is enlargedsubstantially conically from a position adjacent the bearing place up tothe width of the foot plate at the foot plate.
 12. A foot pedalaccording to claim 10, characterized in that the profile member iscompletely surrounded by foamed material over the largest part of itslength and is provided on the side facing the driver with a thickerfoamed material layer than on the side opposite the driver.
 13. A footpedal according to claim 1, wherein said profile member is constructedas a vertically extending flat plate member, wherein said foamedmaterial layer is formed symmetrically with respect to the verticalcenter plane of said flat plate member, said foamed material layer beingthicker in the lateral direction at the end of the plate member adjacentthe bearing place than at the end of the plate member adjacent the footplate.
 14. A foot pedal according to claim 13, wherein said foamedmaterial layer is thicker along the top of said plate member than alongthe bottom of said plate member.
 15. A foot pedal according to claim 13,wherein said foamed material layer is enlarged continuously in thelateral direction from a position adjacent the bearing place up to awidth corresponding to the width of said foot plate at said foot plate.16. A foot pedal according to claim 1, wherein said profile member isconstructed as a cylindrical member having its longitudinal axisextending between the foot plate and the bearing place.
 17. A foot pedalaccording to claim 16, characterized in that the width of the foamedmaterial layer is enlarged substantially conically from a positionadjacent the bearing place up to the width of the foot plate at the footplate.
 18. A foot pedal according to claim 17, wherein the thickness ofsaid foamed material layer is enlarged continuously over the entirelength of the foamed material layer.
 19. A foot pedal according to claim18, wherein said foamed material layer is thicker on the upper side ofsaid cylindrical member than on the bottom side of said cylindricalmember.